CANCELLED Rome's biggest social event in Irish circles on weekend of St Patrick's Day.

16 March. The 28th edition of the Celtic Ball takes place on Saturday 16 March - the night before St Patrick's Day - at the five-star Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome's Parioli district, from 19.00 until late.

The annual black-tie ball will be a “night to celebrate Ireland, with friends old and new” according to Helen Harrington, the president of the Irish Club of Rome which organises the event each year.

The popular social event, which attracts a mixture of Rome's Irish residents and their international friends, begins with a prosecco reception and is followed by a six-course meal with wine, accompanied by live traditional Irish music and dance.

There is free Guinness on tap served all night and the ticket price includes dinner, drinks and post-dinner live music that is guaranteed to keep revellers dancing until the wee hours.

Celtic Ball raffle proceeds will be donated this year to Rome's Joel Nafuma Refugee Centre.

Tickets cost €95 (plus credit card fee) per person. For more information and to reserve tickets email irishclubofrome@gmail.com or see Facebook event page.

For details of St Patrick's Day events in the city see the Wanted in Rome guide.